Arrests in pizza worker murder

Police have made two arrests in connection with the murder of Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, who was stabbed to death in Sheffield during his last shift as a delivery man for Domino's Pizza. A 25-year-old man and a 17-year-old male are being held.

Live updates

On the night he was killed, Thavisha Peiris had agreed to work late at the takeaway pizza chain where he worked, but then asked bosses if he could leave work early because he was feeling ill, police said.

It was agreed that the Sheffield Hallam University graduate could finish after one more delivery - during which he was stabbed to death. Detective Superintendent Lisa Ray described his death as "tragic".

Police said they are not ruling out the possibility the murder of Thavisha Peiris was racially motivated, but said there was "nothing to suggest that's the case".

Detective Superintendent Lisa Ray told a press conference that the pizza worker was wearing a Domino's T-shirt, and said the 25-year-old still had some cash on his person when he died, though police can't yet be sure if anything was taken from the victim.

A graduate who was murdered on his last shift at a takeaway pizza chain before beginning a new career in IT was found dead in the driver's seat of his Toyota Yaris by his workmates.

Staff at Domino's in Sheffield became concerned when Thavisha Lakindu Peiris failed to deliver his final order of the evening.

South Yorkshire Police are dedicating a 50-strong team to the murder investigation.

It is urgent that anyone who saw him, or his car, or anything that they now regard as suspicious, comes forward without delay. A family is grieving for a young man whose life has been taken from him in the most brutal of fashions, and we owe it to him and his family to find the person or persons responsible.

Detectives say they cannot explain the "brutal and shocking death" of a pizza worker who was fatally stabbed as he made his final delivery before starting a career as an IT consultant.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris was stabbed to death as he made his final pizza delivery before starting a career as an IT consultant. Credit: PA

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris was stabbed to death in the Southey area of Sheffield on Sunday evening as he was on his way to deliver a take-away.

Detective Superintendant Lisa Ray, who is leading the investigation, said: "Everything we have learned from his family, friends and workmates at Domino's suggests he was a career-minded, hard-working, bright, articulate and friendly young man who was very much planning his future.

"To date, we have found no explanation for his brutal and shocking death. I need to hear from anyone who knows anything about his murder."